New Living Translation | New Living Translation |
1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? | 1Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? |
2Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. | 2Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. |
3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. | 3Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. |
4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. | 4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. |
5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. | 5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. |
6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. | 6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. |
7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, | 7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges ; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, |
8he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. | 8he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. |
9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, | 9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, |
10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, | 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, |
11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Shine Brightly for Christ | 11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Shine Brightly for Christ |
12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. | 12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. |
13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. | 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. |
14Do everything without complaining and arguing, | 14Do everything without complaining and arguing, |
15so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. | 15so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. |
16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. | 16Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless. |
17But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. | 17But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. |
18Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. Paul Commends Timothy | 18Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy. Paul Commends Timothy |
19If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. | 19If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. |
20I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. | 20I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. |
21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. | 21All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. |
22But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. | 22But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. |
23I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. | 23I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. |
24And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. Paul Commends Epaphroditus | 24And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. Paul Commends Epaphroditus |
25Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. | 25Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. |
26I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. | 26I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. |
27And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. | 27And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. |
28So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. | 28So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. |
29Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. | 29Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. |
30For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away. | 30For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away. |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. |
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